Ibeagha plays 45 in scoreless draw

Dynamo Academy centerback Sebastien Ibeagha (Fort Bend Hightower) played 45 minutes for the U.S. Under-20 national team yesterday, in a 0-0 tie against a
South Florida select team. Ibeagha started the second half at right back, but switched halfway through to the center back position.

Under-20 manager Thomas Rongen played a different lineup in each half, with
Generation adidas signee Zac MacMath the only one to go the full 90 for the U.S.
The University of Maryland product dove to his left to save a second half
penalty kick, which proved to be the only serious test he faced.

In the first half, Akron product Perry Kitchen continued to build his case to be the No. 1
overall pick in next Thursday’s SuperDraft with an impressive performance at
center back, showing exceptional defensive skills in winning the ball cleanly on
several occasions. His fellow Akron teammate, Zarek Valentin, had a quiet first
half at right back, pushing frequently into the attack.

Omar Salgado, expected to be among the top forwards in the SuperDraft, was in
the middle of the key plays in the second half, putting in a shift at center
forward and then switching to attacking left wing. He showed off his ability to
hold up balls in the attack but also missed the mark on three different
occasions and exhibited some heavy legs.

Among current MLS players, NY Red Bulls
teen star Juan Agudelo was busy on the right wing in the
first half while Philadelphia’s Amobi Okugo was erratic at times with his
distribution in midfield. D.C. United’s Ethan White, who played at
right center back and at right back, was involved in the dubious second-half
penalty kick call against the U.S. Also, FC Dallas defender Moises Hernandez had a
positive outing at left back, with several energetic offensive forays.

The match was played on an auxiliary field outside Lockhart Stadium, with
several MLS technical staffs present including D.C. United, Real Salt Lake, FC Dallas,
Sporting Kansas City, the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Colorado Rapids.